Says 200,000 special persons will benefit from the programme;
gang-rape culprits to be punished under the law
LAHORE
THE Punjab government has launched the first and unique programme in the history of the country, Punjab Khidmat Card for providing interest-free loans, free technical training, rehabilitation and welfare and financial assistance to deserving persons.
This historic programme was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during a function held at Chief Minister’s Office, here Tuesday.
He formally launched Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme by pressing a laptop key and personally distributed Khidmat Cards among the deserving special persons by going to their seats. Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme had been initiated to make special persons active and useful members of society and this programme had been launched throughout the province. He said that a sum of Rs2 billion had been allocated for the first phase of the ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme and two lakh deserving special persons would benefit from this programme in the province. He said that under this programme, an amount of Rs3,600 would be given to the deserving persons on quarterly basis and a dignified procedure had been evolved for the payment of financial assistance so that self-respect of the recipient was not hurt. He said that deserving persons could receive this amount from the branches of the Bank of Punjab or ATM. The chief minister said that special persons were also Pakistanis and had the spirit to serve the country instead of being a burden on society.
He said that special persons were an important segment of society and it was the responsibility of the state to facilitate them. He said that ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme had been launched throughout the province keeping in view this noble cause. He said that dignified ceremony had been arranged in the honour of that segment of society which had the spirit to do something for society. He said that special persons could become useful and active members of society if they were equipped with technical and special training. Shahbaz Sharif said that through ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme, the government was trying to enable special persons to stand on their feet and earn their livelihood through provision of financial help and technical training.
He said that it would increase respect of special persons in society and they would be able to play their role for progress of the country. He said that due care of special persons would be taken through ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ and they would be extended the all-out cooperation. He said that the programme had been launched in nine divisions and all districts of Punjab at the same time and through this programme, financial assistance will be extended to special persons in a highly transparent manner.
The chief minister said that committees had been constituted at district level for payment of financial help to the deserving special persons through ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ and this entire process would be highly transparent and would be fully monitored. He said that this programme had been launched in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to serve humanity. Referring to Punjab Education Endowment Fund, Shahbaz Sharif said that it was a revolutionary programme of the Punjab government for providing educational opportunities to poor but talented students and a huge amount of fund had reached Rs15 billion.
He said that from the income of this fund, thousands of children were receiving higher education and a number of the deserving students benefitted from the Educational Fund had reached one lakh.
He said Dr Amjad Saqib had promised that number of deserving students would be taken from one lakh to two lakh during the next one year. He said that an important element of educational fund was that not only students of the Punjab but also of all federating units were benefitting from it.
He said that with the help of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, talented students of poor families were getting education in local and foreign educational institutions and becoming doctors, engineers, teachers and bankers. Referring to provision of interest-free loans to deserving persons under self-employment scheme, the chief minister said that lakhs of people were benefitting from this revolutionary programme of the Punjab government. He said that interest-free loans of Rs16 billion had been distributed among 8 lakh families so far and their repayment rate was 99.9 percent. He said that such programme reflected the courage, determination and national approach to overcome all problems for the achievement of the objectives through hard work and struggle. Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the efforts of Provincial Finance Minister, her team, Chief Executive Officer, Social Protection Authority and the officers concerned regarding the launching of ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme and said that it was the result of their tireless efforts.
Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha while addressing the function threw light on the aims and objectives of ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme. She said it was the first time in the history of the country that splendid programme had been launched for the provision of all-out facilities to the special persons. She said that this programme would help in making special persons respectable, independent and important members of the society. She said that with this programme, vocational training would be imparted to the special persons while they would also be given interest-free loans.
Health Adviser Kh Salman Rafique said it was a historic day that a splendid programme had been launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the proper care and provision of financial assistance to special persons. He said that a centre for rehabilitation for special persons had been set up at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital Muzaffargarh while a similar center had also been established at Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Hospital Badian Road, Lahore. He said that the Punjab government would also set up such centres in other cities.
Provincial Minister for Zakat & Usher Nadeem Kamran said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif deserved appreciation for launching a big programme for special persons. Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Marvi Memon welcomed launching of ‘Punjab Khidmat Card’ Programme for special persons of Punjab and assured cooperation in this regard. She said that other provinces should also emulate the example of the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif so that special persons of those provinces could also benefit from this facility.
Shahbaz Sharif said that all accused involved in gang rape case in Lahore had been arrested. He said that bogus allegations were levelled that an influential accused involved in this incident was not being apprehended. He said that all accused involved in this case had been apprehended and DNA tests were being conducted at the best forensic lab of South Asia. He said that a committee had also been constituted for the investigation into the case which comprised honest police officers and the result of the inquiry would be brought to the nation. He said that the guilty persons would not be able to escape and would be given due punishment under the law. He said there should be no doubt about the fact that the investigation of the case would be conducted honestly and on merit and no political influence would create hurdle in the provision of justice. The chief minister said that demands of justice would be upheld in this case as he had never made compromise in this regard.
He said that provision of justice would be ensured to the affected family. Referring to the tragic incident of cutting of hands of a labourer in Hafizabad, he said that a committee had been constituted to carry out an inquiry. He said that in case, the crime was proved, the culprits would be awarded punishment under the law and no one would be able to hamper provision of justice to the affected family. He said that efforts would be made for meeting the demand of justice without wasting any time and the facts in both cases would be made public.